Lesco chief removed, arrested over alleged abuse of power

Dawn.com Published June 2, 2014

LAHORE: Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) chief Arshad Rafiq was removed from office and arrested on Monday over charges pressed against him involving corruption and abuse of power, DawnNews reported.

Rafiq is being charged with trading in substandard transformers, authorising changes in load-shedding schedules and failing to prevent electricity theft.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the former Lesco chief had misused his authority.

In one instance, he has been accused of changing the load-shedding schedule by halting power supply to Lahore’s Defence area in order to provide electricity in another area.

A case has been registered against Rafiq and names of Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Saleem and Rao Zameer are being considered for the position of Lesco chief.

Last month, the Water and Power Ministry had Rafiq that he should either “improve situation at the company, or the ministry would take direct action”.

Pointing out total collapse of governance – falling recoveries, increasing line losses, excessive and wrong billing – at Lesco, the ministry had issued a second warning to Rafiq in the three months.

“Remedial measures to correct the situation need to be taken at your personal level. It is most pertinent to say that any further silence on your part would be suicidal for power sector and against supreme national interest,” a letter issued by the ministry had said.

Also last week, an arrest warrant was issued against Rafiq for his constant absence in a contempt of court petition filed by a consultant of the company.

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jokhio

Jun 02, 2014 03:07pm

If he is involved in corruption his arrest is comprehensible but if not then he is not a sole being who is mismanaging the matters.Then all ministers of Pakistan along with the Prime Minister should be behind the bars.

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M Rafique

Jun 02, 2014 04:04pm

The LESCO chief removed and arrested over charges pressed against him involving corruption and abuse of power,. These charges 100% applicable on PML (N) Govt both in center and province who will remove and arrest them

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Mohammad Iqbal

Jun 02, 2014 04:07pm

No problem. The case will be diverted to NAB. There he will plea bargain, pay 50% of the looted money and go scot free. His first visit will be to Umra and next to his flat purchased in Burj Khalifa where he will lead the rest of his life in peace and prosperity. This flow chart is applicable to all corrupt Bureaucrats fired or going to be fired.

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TKhan

Jun 02, 2014 05:12pm

@jokhio - didn't mean to object. Don't know what this new option means, I assume disagreement with the comments. I don't. To add, I can understand firing the individual for not performing the job well, but arresting? Those who have been involved in worst corruption are living free and even refuse to appear in court and nothing happens. Andhi Nagri - Kana Raja!

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SKhan

Jun 02, 2014 05:33pm

Atleast some action is being taken against these corrupt officials who think they control the department. Its the people who own them. Send him to jail for life, I say.

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Ayesha

Jun 02, 2014 11:49pm

We want to see action now and no statements and threats to these corrupt one's. He is just a drop in the ocean, how many will you catch almost the entire officials on high level are corrupt to the core. What kind of people they are, how heartless they can be. They know how the poor and the innocents are suffering, and yet, you are taking the basic rights of the people. For God sake,stop it now, you have to show your face to Allah, have mercy, enough injustice.

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Jun 03, 2014 12:58pm

This is absurd. He was corrupt or not God knows. But his only crime for being arrested was because DHA Lahore electricity was shut for about 10 hours because of construction of bridge at Chungi. Just to make a point electricity of adjoining societies (Punjab Cooperative and Statelife) is also shut every alternate day because if this bridge construction.

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BACHOD

Jun 04, 2014 02:16pm

@TKhan You're logic on the matter is invalid. Just because more corrupt people than the ex-LESCO chief are roaming the world scot free, doesn't mean lesser corrupt officials should also not be tried. This nation has to start somewhere with rooting bad seeds out. @SN What is absurd is that you without knowing the facts defend his acts without sound evidence. Even after serious accusations of corruption and kickbacks and negligence of duty are concerned. In a more civilized world, the chief of a state run electric supply company would've stepped down on the second notice.

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